DELL INSPIRON LCD at 1600x1200 is it too small

[Clocker]

I want to buy the 8200 inspiron. I have a 8100 at 1400x1050. I think at higher resolution text will be unreadable but why would dell make something unreadable???

Does anyone have a laptop at this res what are your opinions??

Only reason I am considering the other resolution is the ultra display that is suppose to have a better brightness and viewing area.

Anands reviews has me considering that option.

Clocker

 

[dszd0g]

I don't know why, but I have run resolutions on laptops that I would have a difficult time reading on the same size CRTs. Maybe it's just because I sit closer to a laptop, but I don't know if that is just it.

One can always change to large icons and large fonts.

 

[Dug]

I had an 8100 w/ an UXGA screen @ 1600x1200. I personally couldn't use it unless I changed the DPI to 120 and used large fonts. Which would have been fine, except nothing looks right when viewing web pages and such.

In fact I returned it after a few weeks because I couldnt' stand it any longer.

I woudn't worry about the brightness or the viewing angle. It depends more on the manufacturer of the screen than whether or not its sXGA or UXGA. I've seen dramatic differences between the same models with different manufactured screens. And unfortunately you can't choose with Dell. It's been discussed on their forums and guys were getting screens from 3 different manufacturers all from the same order. So its luck of the draw.

 

[Clocker]

Anyone else with more opinions

 

[RichieZ]

I don't see you you ppl can use that, I just got my 1900FP and i find 1280 x 1024 is just right. We do have a media lab with 20" LCD's (dual 2000FP's ) and I find that 1600 by 1200 is acceptable, but still things are a little small compared to what I'm used to. I don't know you guys can use 15" w/ 1600 by 1200.

My laptop is an IBM Thinkpad T20 w/ 14.1" and the res is 1024 x 768 and its just prefect.

 

[ElFenix]

i've got an 18" crt running 1600x1200 and i can read the forums just fine... but thats about it... for some reason other text is much smaller.

oh yeah, thats mozilla's fault, nm

 

[fr]

I can't stand any resolution higher than 1024x768 so an XGA screen is perfect for me. In fact, I am very reluctant to purchase a 17" LCD because I don't think I can live with the native resolution.

 

[dszd0g]

I had a work Thinkpad T(23 I think) for a few months that ran at 1440x1050 on a 14.1" screen. I had no problems with it at all, it was easily readable for me. On my 21" CRTs I generally run at 1280x1024, sometimes 1600x1200.

 

[daddyo]

I have a 1600x1200 on my Inspiron 8000 and my Thinkpad A31p. There's no way on earth I'd give either of them up for a lower res. Occasionally, it's a bit difficult, but I love having a lot of information on the screen, and it far outweighs the disadvantages.

 

[JKing76]

I'm sitting in class right now, typing on my 8100 with the 15" 1600x1200 screen. I love it completely. I think the resolution is perfect. LCDs are far easier to read than the CRTs, and you generally sit closer to the laptop screen than to a desktop monitor.

 

[tart666]

I had an 8100 w/ an UXGA screen @ 1600x1200. I personally couldn't use it unless I changed the DPI to 120 and used large fonts. Which would have been fine, except nothing looks right when viewing web pages and such.

I've been using large (120dpi) fonts for over a year now, and no probs. You just have to get used to it.

 

[Eug]

I don't like 1600x1200 on a laptop, even if it's 15" with 120 dpi. 1400x1050 is better on a 15" TFT.

That said, I run a 12" 1024x768, because IMO low weight for a laptop is MUCH more important than a big screen.

I had a 15" PIII and sold it because it weighed too damn much (and it weighed less than the Inspiron 8200).

By the way, I'm not overly impressed with the build quality of the 8100. It seems their business line is better built, but of course costs more $$$. I haven't seen an 8200 though.

On my 21" CRTs I generally run at 1280x1024

Err... That will give you distorted images, since 1280x1024 is 5:4. 21 CRTs are generally 4:3. (On an LCD it's usually OK, since 1280x1024 LCDs are built 5:4.)

Anyways, my favourite resolution on a 19" (18") inch CRT is 1400x1050. However, my video card does not support that resolution, and I can't seem to hack the drivers for custom resolutions. Thus, I use the large fonts setting with 1600x1200, but it's still a bit too small for me. 1024x768 is too limiting on a desktop, and 1280x1024 will be distorted.